Container



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 1, 1932.

G. T. HoRToN CONTANER Filed May 23, 1931 Y 6 Il. l y eo 7e H07 fon,

Nov. 1, 1932'T G. T. HoRToN CONTAINER Filed May 23, 1931 4 Sheets-'Sheet2 G. T. HoRToN CONTAINER Filed May 23. 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet Nov. 1, 1932.

Nov. l, 19322. G. T. HoR'roN 1,885,601

l CONTAINER Filed May 25, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 15 sphere.

Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES APATENT OFFICE GEORGE '.l. HORTON,0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO BRIDGE AND IRON COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF ILLINOIS I CONTAINER i Application led 'May 23, 1931.Serial No. 539,578.

This invention relates to improvements in containers and, moreespecially, a closed hquid container.

,J n l n n My invention is especiallyl useful in connection withcontainers for the storage ofy volatile liquids, such as gasoline,petroleum,

and the like, in which it is desired to maintain a certain amount ofpressure for the purpose of preventing or lessening losses by evaporatioMy improved container is generally in-the shape of a solid of revolutionabout a vertical axis and may be described, in general, as being aspheroid, oblate sphere or flattened I have found that a container ofthis lshape is particularly well adapted for holding liquids' of thecharacter described, since with a normal liquid and a normal pressure,it can be so designed as to carry the liquid Weight and internal gaspressure using material, such as sheet metal, of substantial-A lyuniform thickness throughout.

The container is preferably provided with a curved bottom, the curvatureof which may vary somewhat from that used in the body of the container.For example, -the curvature of the bottom may be spherical.

Some of the features of a container of the shape above described aremore particularly pointedl out in my United States Patents, No.1,622,787 of March 29, 1927 and No. 1,778,944, of October 21, 1930.

As stated above, a container of the shape mentioned is preferably desied for holding a given or normal amoun of a given or normal liquid and agiven or normal intern al gas pressure. When all of these factors arenormal, the shape, size and curvature of the .container may be such thatit is substantially self-supporting by its shell alone without the useof any additional supporting or bracing members. A container of the kindreferred to, however, cannot practically always be used under suchnormal conditions. `At times, the container will contain more or lessliquid than the normal amount. Also, the weight of the liquid stored andthe internal gas or vapor pressure may vary from the normal. For thisreason, I have Ifound it necessary or desirable to provide bracing meansfor a container of the kind referred to.

The principal feature of the present invention is the provision of suchbracing means.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of bracing means forthe container that can be used for supporting the curved bottom in araised position during the construction or erection of the container topermit testing of such bottom.

Other features and advantages of my invention ,will appear more fully asI proceed with my specification. r

In 'those formsl of devices embodying the features of my invention shownin the accompanying drawings-' Figure is a view in side elevation of acontainer; Fig. 2 v1s an enlarged vertical sectional view of the bracingmeans; Fig. 3 is a view similar. to Fig. 2 taken at another place; Fig.is'a viewr in side elevation of the bracing means; Fig. 5 is aview'taken as indicated by the .line 5 of 2; Fig. 6 is a view similar toFig. 4 showing a modified form; Fig. 7 1 s a view'talen as indicated bythe line 7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a view taken' as indicated by the line 8of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a view similarv to F1g. 4 showing anothermodification; Fig. 10 is a view taken as indicated by the l1n e 10 ofFig. 9; Fig. 11 is a view taken as indicated by the line 11 of Fig. 10;and Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view, showing: the use of thebracing means during the procly ess of erection or construction of thecontainer.

As shown in the drawings, the container is indicated, in general, by 10and is here shown 1n the form of a spheroid, oblate sphere or :fiattenedsphere preferably made of sheet i metal f ormedof separate pieces 10a,10a suitably riveted, welded or otherwise fastened together. The .bottomof the container, as here shown, is indicated by 10". The curvature ofthis bottom may follow the curvature employed in the body of thecontainer or may vary somewhat therefrom. For eXample,-the

curvature of the bottom portion 10b may be spherical. l

I shall first describe the bracing shown in lilo Figs. l to 5,inclusive. As here shown, 11 indicates an external circular flat rigidbracing member attached to the shell of the container. This circularbracing member 11 is preferably located adjacent the periphery of thebottom 10h of the container; that is, substantially at the place where'the bottom of the container lnay be said to join the body thereof. Ashere shown, such bracing member is substantially at the ground level.This circular bracing member is virtually a rigid flat ring adapted torest on a suitable foundation, for example, tamped or packed sand,concrete or the like, indicated by 12. The bottom 1()b of the tankitself may also rest on similar foundation material under the same,indicated by 12a.

Various means may be provided for attaching the bracing ring 11. to theshell 10a. As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, such means includes vertical radialgusset plates or brackets 13 and 14. The brackets 13 are somewhat.larger than the brackets 14 and alternately arranged with respectthereto. The outer edges of the brackets 13 and 14 are bent over t-oform stiffening flanges 132L and 14a.

Various means may be provided for attaching the parts together. Forexample, as here shown, the upper edges of the brackets 13 are attachedto the shell 10a means of the angle irons 15 and the brackets v14,likewise attached by means of the angle irons 16. The lower edges of thebrackets 13 are attached to the ring 11 by angle irons 17 and the loweredges of the brackets 14 similarly attached by angle irons 18.

The outer edge of the ring 11 may be stiffened by means of an angle iron19. 20 indicates vertical stiffening angle irons attached to thebrackets 13, the lower ends of the same being fastened to the angle iron19. The

inner edge of the ring 11 may be stiffened by an angle iron 21 on theunderside of the same. 22 indicates diagonal bracing members extendingfrom the lower edges of the brackets 13, attachment at the upper endsbeing accomplished by means of the rectangular plates 23.

I shall now describe a modified form of bracing shown in Figs. 6, 7 and8. As here shown, there is provided a ring 111 similar to the ring 11above described. This ring is attached to the shell 10'* by means ofvertical radial brackets -or gusset plates 114, such plates here beingshown as of the same size andy shape. Attachment of the upper edges ofthese plates to the shell is effected by means of the angle irons 116.The outer edges of the brackets 114 are joined by rectangular plates117, attachment being accomplished by means of the angle irons 118. Thelower edges of the plates 114 are attached to the ring 111 by means ofthe angle irons 119.

I shall now describe the form of bracing shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11. Ashere shown,

there is also a ring 211 corresponding to the ring 11 above described.This ring is attached to the shell 10a by means of diagonally arrangedvertical brackets or gusset plates I 214, 214. The outer edges of theseplates are i fastened together at 215, the connection being accomplishedby means of an angle iron 216 on the interior angle. The edges of theplates 214 are attached to the shell 10n by the angle irons 217 andtheir lower edges similarly atr the process of erection. As here shown,the n bottom 1()b is first constructed in an elevated position andsupported at its periphery by the ring 11 which is mounted on suitableraised ,piers or supports 24, 24. `When in this position, the bottom 10bmay be riveted and caulked, and filled wit-h water, oil, or othersuitable liquid 25, for the purpose of testing the same.

Afterv the container is completed and in final position, the ring 11, orthe rings 111 or 211 of the modified forms, serve as ground girders andare adapted to take some of the weight of the container and reinforce,strengthen or stifien the same. Such reinforcement is particularlyuseful in the case of abnormal loadings of the container.

Although I have shown riveting in the construction of the girder, it isobvious that other methods of joining the parts, for example,welding,'may be used.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, itis to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in theappended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all noveltyinherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the priorart.

Thebracingmeans referred to is preferablylocated outside of and adjacentto the periphery (if the bottom that is. substantially at the placewhere the bottom of the container may be said to join the body thereof.It has been found that in containers of the character mentioned thatdistortion is likely to occur at this point when the tank is abnormallylocated. For example, if the weight ofl the liquid is too great or' theinternal gas pressure too low there is a tendency for the shell to bendat points adjacent the attachment of the shell to the periphery of thebottom. That is, the shell tends to flatten out causing a straighteningor flattening of the curvature of the shell near where it is attached tothe'botto'm. On the other hand, if the weight of the liquid is toolittle or if the gas pressure inside is too great there is a tendencyfor the shell to round up and :approach a spherical shape. This tendencyto deformation or distortion of the shell is greatest also at pointsadjacent the attachmentof the shell to the bottom. Consequentfly, I'haveshown the bracing means attached to the shell just outside of theperiphery of the bottom, such bracing means thereby serving to preventdistortion o1,` deformation ofv the shell in this area. What I regard asnew, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A closed liquid container of the character described, substantiallyin the shape of a spheroid, provided with external bracing means; saidmeans including a circular member attached to the shell by means ofvertical radial brackets with their upper edges fastened to the shell ata plurahty of se arated points and their lower edges attache to thecircular member to prevent distortion of the f v shell adjacent saidcircular member.

2. A. structure vas claimed in claim 1 in which .the circular membercomprises a broad flat ring. e

3. A structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the circular member islocated outside of and adjacent the periphery of the bottom -of thecontainer.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set ao rlhagid and seal, this. 19thday of May,

' GEORGE 'r. HoR'roN."

